Boot and more particularly ski boot



, p 1970v I R. w. VOGEL 3,530,595

BOOT ANP MORE PARTICULARLY SKI BOOT Filed Oct. 7. 1968 United States Patent Office 3,530,595 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,530,595 BOOT AND MORE PARTICULARLY SKI BOOT Raimund W. Vogel, Lierstrasse 25, Munich, Germany Filed Oct. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 765,489 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 18, 1967, 1,685,776 Int. Cl. A43b U.S. Cl. 362.5 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A boot with an inner lining consisting of mainly open cell foam tissue which lining can be adapted, outside the boot, to existing foot anomalies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention refers to a boot and, more particularly, to a ski boot with an interior lining consisting of a lightweight supporting material which makes up the sole and the side-walls which, at least in part, surround the foot in its length and width.

Linings for boots are known which by an adequate shaping and size, allow for fitting in the foot into the hollow space of the boot. A known design of a ski boot makes use of a foaming liquid which is poured in the hollow space belonging to the side-walls of the boot. After foaming and hardening of the poured-in liquid the hollow space forms an inner lining consisting of a foam tissue. A subsequent adaptation of this lining which is firmly united with the boot is difiicult.

Moreover an interior lining of a boot is known which consists of several bags placed one beside of the other and filled with balls of phenolic resin. Depending on the shape of the foot various numbers of differently filled bags are placed between the shoe-wall and the foot Where they are definitely positioned against the boot. However, this method of adaptation is troublesome and taking up much time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to facilitate the adaptation work in a boot of the above named kind, the inner lining is arranged, according to the invention, in the hollow space of the boot in such a way that it can be removed and it consists of a supporting material which is built-up by mainly open cells. A particular advantage is offered by an inner lining which, at least around the ankle, is soft. It is obviously possible to use an inner lining consisting of several layers so that the layer which is directed to the inside is a soft one.

The boots inner lining consists, in the case of an advantageous shape of the boot, at least in part of a stiff foam tissue which is, to an appreciable extent, elastically little deformable. It is particularly advantageous if the wall thickness of the inner lining is only in part, especially not exceeding 40%, elastically deformable. A preferred form of execution is an inner lining which is elastically deformable under the influence of heat and/or steam.

In the light of the drawing an example of execution of a boot is described with further advantages and details.

In FIG. 1, a view in perspective, and in FIG. 2, a longitudinal section, a shoewear 1 in the way of a ski boot with a lining 2 is shown by a dot-dash line. The lining 2 consists of a sole 3 carrying the foot made up of a foamed open cell plastic material. Lining 2 is formed and moulded in such a -way that, out of the level of sole 3, side walls 4, 5 extend which at least in part surround the otherwise not represented foot in its length L and in its width B. The outer surfaces 6 of lining 2 are adapted to contours 7 of boot cavity 8. Lining 2 is put into the boot cavity 8 in such a way that it can be removed from it and is thus replaceable.

Lining 2 can be easily fashioned outside the boot for instance by producing, by means of pressure tools, a cell wall rupture of the foam material of lining 2 and thus make room for foot anomalies. The boots inner lining 2 i.e. certain zones of same can be enlarged by local heat treatment of the foam material. Thanks to the open cell foam material the foot is surrounded with an air cushion which is constantly kept in movement while walking. The material used for lining 2 is plastic foam of rather little elastic deformability. This plastic foam is for instance yielding, in a slightly elastic way, up to 40% of its thickness and is of a compressive strength of 0.2 to 50 kg./cm. preferably 10 kg./cm. A foam material may be used which, for instance under the influence of the foots heat and the development of steam by the foot, is softening and comparatively strongly yielding. Such foaming material may for instance consist of polyether type polyurethanes.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic section of the boots inner lining 2 cross to the axis of the ankle. There is an elastic layer 9 next to the foot provided wherein the foot rests softly in the otherwise stitf inner lining. Zone 10 consists of a more elastic foam material than zone 11. This more elastic zone 10 exists preferably in the inner lining 2 where foot anomalies do not stand pressure. It will be of particular advantage to embed, in the foam material, fibres 12, preferably polyamide fibres, in order to increase compressive strength, tensile strength and nondeformability.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ski boot, a supporting elastic liner, the liner being made of synthetic resin substantially open celled foam, the liner being adapted to cover the sides of the boot, the toe and heel portion of the boot, and also the sole of the boot internally, the liner being removable from the boot for local adjustment as to thickness in order to allow for abnormalities of the foot.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the liner has an ankle portion which is soft in relation to the rest of the liner.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the liner is laminated and has an internal portion which is soft in relation to the rest of the liner.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the liner consists at least partly of stiff foam material which is of substantially slight deformability.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the elastic compressibility of the foam material is under 40%.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the liner comprises reinforcing fibres.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,239,952 3/1966 Lange et a1. 36-25 3,243,901 4/1966 Clarizio 36-10 X FOREIGN PATENTS 804,900 5/1951 Germany. 1,007,668 10/1953 Germany.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

